Designer: Unknown

Item: Machine Age Art Deco Bookends

Manufactured by: Unknown

Country of origin: United States

Year made: Ca. 1930s

Materials: Copper, brass, steel

Dimensions: Each are 4 ½” x 3 7/8” x 4 7/8”

Description: Here is another terrific pair of high style machine age art deco industrial age bookends in mixed metals. The bases are thick heavy steel (almost ½” thick) with a brass round tube affixed and heavy copper curved elements attached to the brass tube. We have seen two other pairs like this that were both attributed to a Walter Von Nessen design, but we can find nothing to support such an attribution. We believe it is more likely that this was a design that was either published in a machinist’s trade journal or periodical that professional machinists and metal workers would subscribe to, or a design that was informally shared in the machinist trade. It was not uncommon for designs, as well as design competitions winners to have the design drawings published. This set dates to the 1930s and is quite heavy with each bookend weighing nearly 4 pounds.

Condition: Very good. One of the round brass tube supports has a very minor dent at one edge that can be seen in the fourth photograph on the left bookend. A warm and natural patina to the metals.